Receiver Configuration

Abstract

Measures, including methods, apparatus and computer software for use in a cellular telecommunications network. A network entity causes transmittal, to a user equipment comprising a receiver currently configured in a relatively low performance reception modulation state, of signaling information associated with configuration of the receiver in a relatively high performance reception modulation state and, in response to transmittal of the signaling information, the network entity receives from the user equipment an indication that downlink reception by the receiver configured in the relatively high performance reception modulation state is currently viable.

1 . A method for use in a cellular telecommunications network, the method comprising, at a network entity:
 causing transmittal, to a user equipment comprising a receiver currently configured in a relatively low performance reception modulation state, of signaling information associated with configuration of the receiver in a relatively high performance reception modulation state; and   in response to transmittal of the signaling information, receiving from the user equipment an indication that downlink reception by the receiver configured in the relatively high performance reception modulation state is currently viable.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the transmitted signaling information comprises at least one of:
 an explicit request for the user equipment to configure the receiver to the relatively high performance reception modulation state,   modulation and coding scheme (MCS) signaling,   a first data indicating that a new MCS is being taken into use which includes one or more parameters relating to downlink transmission in a modulation mode associated with the relatively high performance reception modulation state,   a second data indicating that the user equipment is being served by a cell that supports downlink transmission in a modulation mode associated with the high performance reception modulation state,   a third data indicating configuration of at least one time domain measurement restriction pattern for the user equipment, and   an implicit request for the user equipment to configure the receiver to the relatively high performance reception modulation state.   
     
     
         3 - 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . An apparatus for use in a cellular telecommunications network, the apparatus comprising a processing system, including at least one data processor and at least one computer-readable memory, configured to, at a network entity:
 cause transmittal, to a user equipment comprising a receiver currently configured in a relatively low performance reception modulation state, of signaling information associated with configuration of the receiver in a relatively high performance reception modulation state; and   in response to transmittal of the signaling information, receive from the user equipment an indication that downlink reception by the receiver configured in the relatively high performance reception modulation state is currently viable.   
     
     
         23 . The apparatus according to  claim 22 , wherein the transmitted signaling information comprises an explicit request for the user equipment to configure the receiver to the relatively high performance reception modulation state. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus according to  claim 22 , wherein the transmitted signaling information comprises modulation and coding scheme (MCS) signaling. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus according to  claim 22 , wherein the transmitted signaling information comprises data indicating that a new MCS is being taken into use which includes one or more parameters relating to downlink transmission in a modulation mode associated with the relatively high performance reception modulation state. 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus according to  claim 22 , wherein the transmitted signaling information comprises data indicating that the user equipment is being served by a cell that supports downlink transmission in a modulation mode associated with the high performance reception modulation state. 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus according to any of  claim 22 , wherein the transmitted signaling information comprises data indicating configuration of at least one time domain measurement restriction pattern for the user equipment. 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus according to any of  claim 24 , wherein the transmitted signaling information comprises an implicit request for the user equipment to configure the receiver to the relatively high performance reception modulation state. 
     
     
         29 . The apparatus according to  claim 28 , wherein the implicit or explicit request for the user equipment to configure the receiver comprises a request to increase the error vector magnitude (EVM) performance of the receiver to a level sufficient to support downlink reception in the relatively high performance reception modulation state. 
     
     
         30 . The apparatus according to  claim 22 , wherein the indication comprises a channel quality indicator (CQI) report indicating sufficient performance of the receiver to support downlink reception in the relatively high performance reception modulation state. 
     
     
         31 . The apparatus according to any  claim 22 , the processing system being configured to, in response to receipt of the indication, schedule downlink transmission to the user equipment using a modulation mode associated with the relatively high performance reception modulation state. 
     
     
         32 . The apparatus according to  claim 22 , the processing system being configured to, prior to causing transmittal of the signaling information, receive at least one further indication from the user equipment, the further indication indicating that the performance of the receiver exceeds that required to support downlink reception in the relatively low performance reception modulation state,
 wherein causing transmittal of the signaling information is performed in response to receipt of the further indication.   
     
     
         33 . (canceled) 
     
     
         34 . The apparatus according to  claim 32 , wherein the further indication and/or the plurality of further indications comprise one or more CQI reports indicating the performance of the receiver exceeding that required to support downlink reception in the relatively low performance reception modulation state. 
     
     
         35 . The apparatus according to  claim 22 , wherein the signaling information is transmitted via radio resource control (RRC) signaling, wherein the signaling information is transmitted via physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) or an enhanced physical downlink control channel (EPDCCH). 
     
     
         36 . (canceled) 
     
     
         37 . The apparatus according to  claim 22 , the processing system being configured to determine that signal and/or interference conditions for downlink transmission to the user equipment are to attain a level suitable for downlink transmission to the user equipment in a modulation mode associated with the relatively high performance reception modulation state at a given future point in time,
 wherein causing transmittal of the signaling information is performed at least in response to the determination.   
     
     
         38 . The apparatus according to  claim 37 , wherein causing transmittal of the signaling information is performed in conjunction with a channel state information (CSI) feedback request transmitted to the user equipment,
 wherein the transmitted signaling information is comprised within the transmitted ESI feedback request.   
     
     
         39 . (canceled) 
     
     
         40 . The apparatus according to  claim 22 , wherein the relatively high performance reception modulation state comprises a 256 quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) or higher order modulation state, while the relatively low performance reception modulation state comprises a 64 QAM or lower order modulation state. 
     
     
         41 . (canceled) 
     
     
         42 . The apparatus according to any of  claim 22 , wherein the relatively high performance reception modulation state has a higher associated power consumption than the relatively low performance reception modulation state. 
     
     
         43 - 63 . (canceled) 
     
     
         64 . An apparatus for use in a cellular telecommunications network, the apparatus comprising a processing system, including at least one data processor and at least one computer-readable memory, configured to, at a user equipment comprising a receiver:
 receive, from a network entity, signaling information associated with configuration of the receiver in a relatively high performance reception modulation state, the receiver being currently configured in a relatively low performance reception modulation state; and   cause transmittal, to the network entity, of an indication that downlink reception by the receiver configured in the relatively high performance reception modulation state is currently viable.   
     
     
         65 - 170 . (canceled)